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In fact, the halacha (Brachot 49a; Shulchan Aruch Or.Ch. 187) is that if one bentches and forgot to thank Hashem for the covenant which He granted our fore-fathers to give us the Land of Israel forever, he must even go back and bentch again, for that's the essence!
Every day in the morning psukei d'zimra we also say: "...וכרות עמו הברית לתת את ארץ הכנעני החיתי האמורי והפרזי והיבוסי והגרגשי לתת לזרעו, ותקם את דבריך כי צדיק אתה", "… and You made the covenant with him (Avraham) to give the Land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give to his descendants, and You KEPT YOUR WORDS, for You are RIGHTEOUS" (Nechemya 9, 8).
For 2,000 years of Galut, G-d's righteousness was not visible in this Biblical and liturgical context, for as if it were, He did not "keep His word". Reminiscing about some ancient event of what used to be, would hardly show His righteousness in the present! On the other hand, the 2nd Kuzari (written about 300 years ago by Rabbi David Nieto, based on the Q & A framework of R. Yehuda HaLevy's classic, iii, 94-96) explains that when Hashem does us kindness and victory over our enemies, one of the reasons He does so is so that we should praise and thank Him. This Torah pasuk is just one more source in the Torah for the obligation to say Hallel on Yom HaAtzma'ut and on Yom Yerushalayim (for the 6 Day War) for giving us the Land of Israel, and for thanking Hashem for each and every victory, from the "Pager Attack", to setting back Iran's nuclear program. When my relatives in Williamsburg & how much more so Neturei Karta, deny and don't thank Hashem on Israel Independence Day and Yom Yerushalayim & don't participate in Israel's celebrations this year, they are that much less religious and unfortunately don't see "G-d's righteousness" and keeping His word to us! Yes, G-d is alive and well and still "the G-d of Israel".
Similarly, regarding our present day Gathering of the Exiles which sees most (!) of the Jewish People (except just those who choose not to participate…) already regathered to Israel, we say in the long Tachanun every Mon. & Thurs., "הושיענו ד' אלקינו וקבצנו מן הגוים להודות לשם קדשך להשתבח בתהילתך", "Save us, O Lord, our God, and GATHER us from the nations, to give thanks to Your holy Name, to boast with Your praise" (Tehillim 106, 47). When my relatives in Williamsburg & Meah Shearim deny and don't thank Hashem for Zionism and our modern national return to Eretz Yisrael, they are that much less religious, and that much less praising Hashem and recognizing that He, not the UN, runs the world!
The Mesilat Yesharim (ch. 19, THE classic mussar work) quotes chazal (Tana d'Bei Eliahu, 4), "Every wise person.. who has true words of Torah, and moans for the honor of G-d and the honor of Israel his entire life, desires… the redemption and gathering of the exiles… for through her will come the heightening of G-d's Name". To be a religious-Zionist is to be more religious.
In short, I think if the Yeshiva world would learn more Tanach or even focus more on the siddur, davening, bentching & mussar, they could not help but be that much more religious by being religious-Zionists, and they wouldn't even have to call it by that term! Just call yourself: serious & authentically religious.
In short, why wait for Yom HaAtzmaut? Don't even wait to celebrate every victory that Hashem brings the IDF. Thank, celebrate and appreciate them and Him every time you bentch or say "Al HaMichya", as is explicit in this week's parsha!
Shabbat Shalom, Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)
Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.
Ein Aya Why Judaism Respects the Corpse and the Dead- Eternity, Not Superstition
Ein Aya Shabat Chapter B Paragraph 52
Additional Lessons Answering Accusations of Israeli-Occupation
& Why the Moral Mitzvot are Geared Only to Jews- Not Gentiles?
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
